Eastern Pennsylvania

PAT FREARSON

Day Job: Bank teller at First Niagara Bank

Events (TNT TRIPLE CROWN PARTICIPANT!):
2002 Philadelphia Distance Run
2002 Bermuda Marathon
2003 San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon
2004 Anchorage Midnight Sun Marathon
2005 Rome Marathon
2005 Dublin Marathon
2006 & 2008 Nike Women's Marathon
2007 Nashville Country Music Marathon
2007 Accenture Chicago Triathlon
2008 & 2010 St. Anthony's Triathlon
2009 America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride (Lake Tahoe)

Why TNT?
"In April of 2002 my then 28 year old son Dave was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  It was an awful and fearful time for my husband, myself and my son. I don't want other families to have to go through the same thing.  I hope to keep going until there is a cure." 

Why Pat returns each year:
"It is addicting!  I love crossing the finish line.  As a coach I also enjoy bringing first timers across the finish line as well."

Favorite TNT Memory:
"With each event that I have done, there are great memories.  My favorite memory is my first event.  My friends and family were there to support me.  My one friend walked the whole marathon with me.  My friends and sisters were there along the route cheering me on.  But when I crossed the finish line my son Dave (who was going through chemo at the time) my daughter-in-law Ashley and my 5 month old grandaughter Layne were there as well.  That memory still brings tears to my eyes."

Advice to new participants:
"I know fundraising and training for a long distance event seems overwhelming, but you can do this.  You do it ONE STEP AT A TIME!"

ERIC DALTON

Day Job: Vice President of JUST Normlicht Inc.

Events:
2008 Sea Gull Century Ride
2009 Sea Gull Century Ride
2009 El Tour de Tucson
2010 America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride

Why TNT?
"I have a cousin that is a 20+ year survivor, my best friend's father lost his battle with leukeima several years ago and I have several friends still fighting their battles.  Even without all these connections though, TNT is a wonderful organization with a great staff who give me the ability to help others find curses for these diseases."

Why Eric returns each year:
"I keep coming back to TNT because I am thrilled to be able to help people raise money for such a great cause while doing something that I love.  There is also the added bonus of being there when first time participants reach their goal and cross the finish line that they thought they would never cross."

Favorite TNT Memory:
"Helping a rooking participant finish the El Tour de Tucson in 2009 in just over 10 hours.  109 miles in 10 hours and six minutes with a strong wind and almost 3,000 feet of climbing.  The pure excitement she had for finishing the event was incredible!"

Advice to new participants:
"TNT has every resource you could ever need to meet your goal of raising the money and completing your event.  Ask everyone on the team any questions and you'll surely get the answer you need to put your mind at ease and accomplish your goal."

LISA EBERT

Day Job: Director of Human Resources

Events (TNT TRIPLE CROWN PARTICIPANT!):
2006 Philadelphia Distance Run
2007 Accenture Chicago Triathlon
2008 Nike Women's Marathon
2009 America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride - Lake Tahoe
2010 St. Anthony's Triathlon

Why TNT?
"My father had Multiple Myeloma and getting involved with TNT was a way for me to do something in his memory that would benefit other people and provide a unique challenge for myself."

Why Lisa returns each year:
"My father's favorite quote was 'the best use of your life is to spend your life on that which will outlast your life' I believe that by continuing to be involved with TNT as a participant, mentor or coach, I am doing something positive that will outlast my life and positively impact the lives of countless people. Also, I've stayed involved because TNT is so focused on their mission and ensuring that 75% of my fundraising dollars goes directly to the research and patient support programs. And I've made some awesome friends through TNT."

Favorite TNT Memory:
"I have a multitude of wonderful TNT memories, but I if I had to chose, I don't think anything can rival the memory of the amazing experience of doing my first event. Crossing the finish line was awesome, but even more so by doing it with the team and knowing that I had also been successful in fundraising for a good cause, it was truly a life changing experience for me."

Advice to new participants:
"Believe in yourself! Take full advantage of what TNT offers you fundraising support, training support, group practices, coaches, mentors and staff. If you follow the program, both for fundraising and training, you will be successful and have the experience of a lifetime!!"

TARA KARETA

Day Job: Catering Sales Manager

Events:
2007 Nike Women's Marathon
2008 Dublin Marathon
2010 Dublin Marathon (currently in training)

Why TNT?
"I originally signed-up for TNT back in 2007 when I first moved to Philadelphia and didn't know anyone in the area.  I figured an organization that was made up of people that were fundraising and working out had to be filled with pretty awesome people and I was right."

Why Tara returns each year:
"Hands down this is the greatest group of people I have ever met.  I find that if it is your first time or returning alumni everyone involved is an amazing, caring and fun individual.  I have been a participant, a mentor and a coach and I don't think they could get rid of me if they wanted to.  I keep coming back for more and I look forward to being there for when TNT reaches the $2 billion mark."

Favorite TNT Memory:
"That's an easy one - any race I have ever coached.  The look on someone's face when they realize they comlpeted their goal and can see the finish line is priceless.  Anything I have potentially done to help someone complete a race and believe in themselves is greater than any race I have ever personally completed."

Advice to new participants:
"Come to practice!!!  One of the greatest things of TNT is the people you will meet.  They make the miles go by quicker and are a blast to spend time without through the season."

 

 

LEIGH ANN PARENTE

Day Job: My husband is partner in a Computer Engineering company; I do all the stuff that isn't computer engineering.

Events (TNT TRIPLE CROWNE PARTICIPANT!):
2004, 2005 & 2009 America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride (Lake Tahoe)
2006 & 2008 Nike Women's Marathon
2007 Accenture Chicago Triathlon
2010 Nashville Country Music Marathon                                                                                    

Why TNT?                                                                                                                                     "I first joined TNT in 2003 when my step-father was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma.  He passed away in 2006."

Whey Leigh Ann returns each year:                                                                                      "There are so many reasons!  First, I know from working closely with LLS, that it is a well run charity that produces excellent results.  The research they fund benefits not only blood cancers, but all cancers, and even other diseases like AIDS.  The other big reason I keep coming back is that TNT is so much fun.  It has encouraged me to grow as a person, allowed me to meet so many great people, and helped me stay in shape.  What else could I possibly do with my time that provides all that?!?!"

Favorite TNT Memory:                                                                                                      "Training for my first event was really hard for me.  I'm not a very strong cyclist, and every week during training, at some point, while trying to climb some hill, I'd wind up in tears.  It was my goal to be able to make it through the full 100 miles of my event without crying. 

Finally, it's event weekend, and we're riding!  The first big climb was at about mile 15: a set of switchbacks that I had been dreading for months.  Because I had been training, I was able to ride right up the switchbacks without crying or getting off to push my bike or anything!  I was giddy!!!

But then...I saw, among all of the spectators cheering us on, a mother, with a sign that said "Thank You" and a picture of her little boy - we could guess from his bald head that he was a cancer patient.  She was standing there with her sign in one hand, her other hand was waving "I love you"  in sign language.  Well, my goal of not crying during the event was shot.  There I was - bursting into tears after having just conquered my biggest cycling fear.  I'll never forget that mother."

Advice to new participants:                                                                                                  "Have a little faith.  If you put in your training miles, and follow the advice of your coaches and mentors, you WILL cross your twin finish lines - your fund raising finish line and your event finish line." 

MARNEY LORAH (on the right)

Day Job: Staff Physical therapist in inpatient acute care physical therapy, in addition to mom of a 7 year old, wife, and doctoral grad student.

Events:
2008 Disney ½ Marathon
2008 Anchorage Midnight Sun Marathon
2010 Nike Women's Marathon

Why TNT?
"Initially I joined TNT since I kept getting injured and wanted to get past a 3 mile run. I quickly recognized the purpose of using an endurance event to not only raise money for LLS, but to raise awareness of the LLS mission and activities to friends, survivors, patients seeking treatment, co-workers, and the public."

Why Marney returns each year:
"Nothing beat the feeling of seeing a participant cross the finish line after 3-6 months of training in heat, rain, snow, and wind?except the feeling knowing that several of our past participants are now close friends!"

Favorite TNT Memory:
"Crying with two of my participants after crossing the finish line after the San Diego Marathon---their 'rite to passage'."

Advice to new participants:
"Take the advice you hear from the perky girl in the video at the info meeting?."Do it, just do it!" You?ll never regret it!"

MEG GRUGAN

Day Job: Family Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Education Manager/Mother of Four

Events:
2008 New Jersey Shore Marathon
2009 Nike Women's Half Marathon

Why TNT?
"I chose TNT because my friend was in the middle of treatment and it made me feel like I was helping to cure her cancer."

Why Meg returns each year:
"I keep coming back because the people of TNT are fabulous and because it is so much fun! They support patients and families as well as research. I really believe in the mission-and I look forward to the day when there is no more mission-because we have a cure!"

Favorite TNT Memory:
"Seeing my hero Lori, who waited for me at the last water stop of a 22 mile run, just to give me a hug- even though I smelled really bad!"

Advice to new participants:
"Joining TNT will change your life and the lives of more people than you can even imagine- many people you will never meet."